I used to ride a motorcycle. Her name was Thea. I loved her dearly, She was good to me, I was good to her, I took her for long rides, Short rides, Cleaned her up, Kept her covered, She had regular maintenance, And she loved the sunshine. She was my trusty steed. One day I saddled her up, Packed my meager things, Began traipsing about, For the love of adventure. I spent twenty-one days on the road, All of them with my lady. Started in Baltimore, Breezed through PA, Stopped in Ohio, Moved on to Michigan, Wisconsin, The next day was Minnesota. Then South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, Soon it was Oregon and on to California by uncovered motor-horse. Spent a lot of time riding up and down the CA coast, Seeing family in LA and the San Francisco Bay, Before settling down, Albeit briefly, To my new home, In “The City.” It was only a week, Before things went wrong. Thea couldn’t keep me, Bucked me off, In the middle of the Bay Bridge, Sunday afternoon July 29th 2012. Woke up in Oakland, Face all broken, Hands and knees scraped till clean. Nurse asked, “Will you ever ride again?” “Of course” I replied, Groggy and sleep eyed, But resolved not to let my passion, For taming mechanical mares, Go away. I refused surgery, Didn’t take any meds, Called up Progressive to report Thea’s death. Didn’t know she was dead at the time, Thought she’d pull through. It was her first accident, I was mostly fine, Hoped she would be too. But months went by and she didn’t come back, I was told she needed to be put down. I didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye, Just got a check, That didn’t cover my medical expenses, And was sent on my way, Without the lady I loved to convey me back and forth, To wherever I may need to go. Since then I’ve healed up, Have a few new scars, And a hole in my heart, Where the road used to live. Where Thea used to live. Now I won’t say I’m empty, But sometimes I feel like my tank is. I flipped the switch to reserve, But if I don’t stop and fuel up soon, I might just putter out.